Module information

Economics for a Sustainable World

Module description

This module is an introduction to theories in concepts in economics that underpin much of the world of modern business. It will help you to understand how businesses and economies work, and why. Economics concepts and thinking lie at the heart of how markets work, how and why businesses function and how and why people behave. Understanding economics is essential to more detailed understanding of business.

Full module specification

Module title:

Economics for a Sustainable World

Module code:

MBAM807

Module level:

M

Academic year:

2014/5

Module lecturers:

Professor Robin Mason - Convenor

Mr Morgan Witzel - Convenor

Module credit:

12

ECTS value:

6

Pre-requisites:

None

Co-requisites:

None

Duration of module:

Duration (weeks) - term 1:

5

Module aims

The aims of this module are to allow you to develop an understanding of the relevance of economics to managers in business, and to introduce key issues in the economics of a sustainable world: for example, the economics of climate change, biodiversity, and extending notions of national income to include natural resources. The first part of the module will focus on microeconomics content and will concentrate on understanding markets: the way that they work, and the ways in which they fail.

The second part of the module will explore macroeconomics: what growth, inflation and imports/exports mean; why countries trade; and the effects of globalisation. We will also look at more recent developments to extend measures of national income; and look at the differences between physical and economic scarcity of natural resources, and constraints on growth.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. explain the role of economics in managerial decision-making.

2. explain and evaluate how markets work.

3. comprehend the nature of market failure and the implications for business and government.

4. evaluate the factors affecting the macroeconomic environment, and their interactions and interdependencies.

5. appreciate the value of using economics in assessing the external environment for business decision-making.

6. evaluate emerging economic themes that are having an impact on companies.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

7. think analytically.

8. interpret economic data.

9. critically reflect on common assumptions held within the business community.